Alerts Sign-up
Uriel Barrera, an educator at KIPP Academy Middle School in the Bronx, has filed federal charges against officials of the United Federation of Teachers Local 2 (UFT), an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). The charges allege that union officials threatened teachers with the loss of benefits if they did not join the union and demanded dues without legal authority. Barrera submitted these unfair labor practice charges to National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Region 2 in New York with support from the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation.
The NLRB enforces private sector labor law, which applies to many charter schools like KIPP Academy Middle School. According to Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), union officials cannot restrict workers' rights to refrain from union activities through threats. The NLRA also prohibits demanding dues unless a monopoly bargaining agreement is finalized with their employer.
In New York, UFT officials can negotiate contracts requiring KIPP educators to pay dues as a condition for employment due to the absence of Right to Work protections. In Right to Work states, however, union membership and financial support are voluntary. Regardless, in all jurisdictions, unions can impose uniform contracts on dissenting workers.
